Living in Key West

Two kinds of people live in Key West. Those who love it, warts and all. And those who hate it and plot everyday to get off the island. If you’re not in love at first sight, you’re not likely to shrug off the challenges the longer you’re here. In short, (cliche coming) love it or leave it.

7 ways to move here

How does one move to Key West? There are lots of toss-off answers, like “marry rich” or “rob a bank,” but I decided to take this seriously. Here’s how one prepares to move to Key West.

Why would you leave?

Everyone dreams of living in Key West, a place where everyone knows why you’d move there. What most folks rarely stop to think about: Why would anyone up and leave? And they do. Lots of them.

North to Miami? Nope

Did you know you head east when you drive to Miami? Not north. East-northeast. And mostly east. Trust your eyes at sunrise. Well, except for a couple of stretches like that right turn in Big Pine, which is due south.

The things no one tells Key West homeowners

 

Wow. You own (or rent) your personal piece of paradise. So how come you’ve got bugs, mold and mildew? How come the like-new air conditioning needs to be replaced? Home repairs and maintenance in a sub-tropical environment are not for the faint of heart.
Key West home repair
Florida anole on porch

Hidden charms and frustrating secrets

Lizards. Iguanas. ROACHES. Floods. Hurricanes. Power outages. Crashing cell service. No water. No parking. Traffic headaches. Neighbors so close you hear their toliets flush. And, yet we can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Locals’ tips for island homes

Outside cleanup in Key West | Power washer or generator? Pick one

Outside cleanup in Key West | Power washer or generator? Pick one

Twice a year Ranger Ed and I give into the temptation to whine about living in Key West. Welcome to the semi-annual outside cleanup. Up north y'all call it "opening the pool" or "getting ready for winter." Rake leaves; mulch plants; test the snow blower; shock (or...

Key West rain | Just dry season or is there a drought?

Key West rain | Just dry season or is there a drought?

I'm not alone in grinning when I read a weather forecast that calls for rain. Or when I get up to promisingly heavy cloudy skies. Dadgummit! It could rain today. One needs only eyeballs to confirm it's been darn dry the past three months. It's dusty. Everything is...

What’s it really like to live here?

Key West rain | Just dry season or is there a drought?

Key West rain | Just dry season or is there a drought?

I'm not alone in grinning when I read a weather forecast that calls for rain. Or when I get up to promisingly heavy cloudy skies. Dadgummit! It could rain today. One needs only eyeballs to confirm it's been darn dry the past three months. It's dusty. Everything is...

Outside cleanup in Key West | Power washer or generator? Pick one

Outside cleanup in Key West | Power washer or generator? Pick one

Twice a year Ranger Ed and I give into the temptation to whine about living in Key West. Welcome to the semi-annual outside cleanup. Up north y'all call it "opening the pool" or "getting ready for winter." Rake leaves; mulch plants; test the snow blower; shock (or...

Living in Key West: Let’s treat each other gently

Living in Key West: Let’s treat each other gently

The humidity this morning in the Shenandoah Valley is 47 percent, which Accuweather says is "ideal." Are they freaking nuts? Get me back to Key West, give me 20 points more and I might agree. Ranger Ed and I have been off-island for a week, visiting family scattered...

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